Is Happily Ever After A Downgrade from Wishes?

[SteamboatJoe]

Looks like you were 14 years between trips, essentially during the entire Wishes run. That probably explains why you never developed a love or nostalgia for a show you rarely saw.

True, I wasn't fortunate enough between the end of high school and my early 30's to go on my own as it is quite a distance and expense for me to go living several states away but I've still seen it more times than I've seen HEA. I was fortunate enough to be there the week they switched shows so I had the opportunity to compare them. I would've been in college by the time Wishes debuted so I doubt that even if I had seen it 10 plus years ago, I'd have the same deep, nostalgic, emotional attachment one tends to develop when visiting Disney as a child. That is not to say that a teen or adult can't form similar attachments. They certainly can and often do. I just don't think I would have...at least not that level. Don't get me wrong, I certainly loved Wishes. It elicited an emotional response from me, I'm just not going to condemn HEA for not being Wishes.

I do have that deep emotional connection to SpectroMagic. It was the nighttime parade that ran when I fist visited as a child and it was truly magical for me. Spectro will always have a special place for me but that is not to say I didn't fully enjoy MSEP when it was still running in '15. I imagine folks older than I am that remember MSEP's first run before Spectro may have the exact opposite feeling. I wouldn't blame them if they did.

I just don't think it's fair to take that emotional bias into account when analyzing two shows nor is it fair to the new show to hate it just because one deeply loved the old show. Wishes wasn't going to stay around forever. HEA isn't Wishes or Fantasy in the Sky and I am fine with that. Others apparently aren't. To each their own.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Nothing was more string tugging than the end of wishes, that entire ending was just perfect and it's not easy to create something that's as good, a show like wishes only comes within every 10 to 20 years or every other show. The first Fantasy in the sky as short and cheesy as it was had that perfect chemistry as well. It's hard to get a chemistry like that between the music, the show and the audience and it doesn't come often.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

Just watched a youtube video of the new show a couple of nights ago...I think they definitely added a lot more pyro...Can't wait to see it in person!

 

[GenerationX]

A couple of years ago, we went to DLP and were mesmerized by the castle projections during the fireworks show. Loved it, visually dazzling. We were very pleased to see WDW incorporate the castle projections into the show. A definite upgrade for us.

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

Yes.
"All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong.".

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

All we can do now is hope that they bring in Remember dreams come true for the 50th, that's the closes to wishes we'll ever get.

 

[Ag11gani]

All we can do now is hope that they bring in Remember dreams come true for the 50th, that's the closes to wishes we'll ever get.

Why would we want a clone, let alone for an anniversary?

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Why would we want a clone, let alone for an anniversary?

A good compromise that's all

 

[Rumrunner]

It would have been nice if they could have kept Wishes and shown it once or twice a week. I like the traditional, the classics, and HEA may be great for some but it is not traditional or classic.
Wishing they still had a few nights a week of Wishes.

 

[correcaminos]

Looks like you were 14 years between trips, essentially during the entire Wishes run. That probably explains why you never developed a love or nostalgia for a show you rarely saw.

So what about people like me wo have gone regularly (like yearly if not more) since 1999? I hated Wishes. After about 3 or 4 watches I never bothered again. Not everyone who saw it loved it. I liked Fantasy in the Sky much better.

 

[Rumrunner]

Wish upon a star was truly inspirational. Kids and adults should be dreamers because before anything worthwhile becomes a reality it has to be visualized thru a dream. Walt dreamed about Disneyland and Disney World and then went thru the trials and tribulations to make them a reality. I am thankful for Walt's dreams for me, my kids, and grand kids. That is the main reason will miss Wishes.

 

[bclane]

I loved Wishes and I now love HEA too (it's really grown on me). They are very different shows and beautiful in their own way to me. My struggle with HEA is that I find myself either focusing on the projections or on the fireworks and I have a hard time taking it all in at once. I'm only 47 (which is not that old you whippersnappers!!!) but I guess my age could have something to do with it.

 

[Chef Mickey]

So what about people like me wo have gone regularly (like yearly if not more) since 1999? I hated Wishes. After about 3 or 4 watches I never bothered again. Not everyone who saw it loved it. I liked Fantasy in the Sky much better.

You're of course entitled to your opinion, but I find it difficult to understand how you "hated" Wishes. I liked Fantasy in the Sky as well.

I don't even hate HEA. I just find it worse than Wishes at this point. I literally saw Wishes over a hundred times so I realize nostalgia is working overtime.

 

[correcaminos]

You're of course entitled to your opinion, but I find it difficult to understand how you "hated" Wishes. I liked Fantasy in the Sky as well.

I don't even hate HEA. I just find it worse than Wishes at this point. I literally saw Wishes over a hundred times so I realize nostalgia is working overtime.

I thought Wishes was cheesy and stupid. As you said we are all entitled to our opinions and that is mine. Very glad it is gone. I avoided it for a long time. Only watched it sans music if staying at a MK resort. I also disliked Spectromagic for the same reason. So glad that's gone too.

 

[The_Bellringer]

HEA is much more stirring and resonates deeper for me than Wishes did. I like the message behind HEA.

 

[Dreamflight]

I thought Wishes was depressing. After a fun time in the park the last thing I want to do is hold someone and cry.

I think the new show is much more upbeat and uplifting. I also like the way guests cheer when their favorite movies pop up.